Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Humberstone Medical Centre - IP Jones on 25 April 2016. Overall the practice is rated as good.

Our key findings across all the areas we inspected were as follows:

• There was an open and transparent approach to safety and an effective system in place for reporting and recording significant events.

• Risks to patients were assessed and well managed. The practice had an effective risk register in place and had carried out numerous risk assessments which were reviewed on a regular basis.

• Staff assessed patients’ needs and delivered care in line with current evidence based guidance. Staff had been trained to provide them with the skills, knowledge and experience to deliver effective care and treatment.

• Information about services and how to complain was available and easy to understand. Improvements were made to the quality of care as a result of complaints and concerns.

• The practice had good facilities and was well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs.

• There was a clear leadership structure and staff felt supported by management. The practice proactively sought feedback from staff and patients, which it acted on.

• The practice had an active patient participation group (PPG) who met on a regular basis and arranged health promotion events within the practice for patients.

• The provider was aware of and complied with the requirements of the duty of candour.

The areas where the provider should make improvement are:

• Review process and methods for identification of carers and the system for recording this. To enable support and advice to be offered to those that require it.

• Address the issues highlighted in the national GP survey in order to improve patient satisfaction, including in respect of appointment access in relation to GP appointments.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice